Officials urge caution after bird flu cases reported in New York

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. - Recent outbreaks of “avian flu,” among wild birds and domesticated poultry in New York state have health officials mobilizing to spread the message that -- although the overall risk to public health remains low -- precautions still need to be taken.

Tops among those safety measures: Folks should avoid direct contact with sick or dead birds. Fido and Fifi have to be kept far away from our feathered friends too.

Earlier this month, close to a dozen Canada geese found dead in a town park in Mount Pleasant had been infected with H5N1, a highly contagious respiratory disease.

(Westchester County said that -- as of last week -- there had been NO reported cases of bird flu in any of its 50 parks or recreational areas, including Alfred B. DelBello Muscoot Farm and Lasdon Park in Somers, and Sal J. Prezioso Mountain Lakes Park in North Salem.)

In January, the carcass of another of the ubiquitous waterfowl was discovered at Green Chimneys, a farm and wildlife center in Brewster in Putnam County. It too tested positive.

Another case was identified in a deceased Canada goose in New City in Rockland County. Bird flu killed 50 chickens and ducks on a farm in Ulster County. And a commercial duck farm -- the last of its kind on Long Island – was forced to euthanize more than 100,000 of the animals after bird flu was detected.

Elsewhere in the country, new concerns were raised when H5N1 was identified in dairy cattle in 17 states, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The most impacted to date has been California. NO cases have been reported in New York.

There are NO reports of human incidents of bird flu in New York state. However, nationwide there have been 68 confirmed cases over the last 10 months, the majority of which occurred in people who worked closely with poultry or dairy animals. The one human fatality to date occurred in Louisiana.

Human-to-human transmission isn’t impossible but is very rare, scientists said.

Protect Yourself

Even though the risk of getting bird flu is low, there are steps folks should be taking, said Westchester County Health Commissioner Dr. Sherlita Amler earlier this month.

If you find a dead bird, don’t touch it or its fluids.

Put on gloves, a facemask, and eye protection (the virus can contaminate dust particles that can enter your eyes); use a shovel to pick up and place the carcass in a triple-bagged garbage or contractor bag and discard in an outdoor bin, throw away your gloves and facemask after use, and make sure to wash your hands and clothing immediately afterwards.

In general, be cautious during and after spending time in areas with geese and other wild bird droppings.

Don’t touch surfaces or materials contaminated with saliva, mucous, or feces from wild or domestic birds or other animals with confirmed or suspected infections.

Contact your healthcare provider if you develop a fever, flu-like symptoms, or eye inflammation.

Don’t consume raw milk or other unpasteurized dairy products such as cheese, yogurt, and ice cream.

Always properly store, handle, and cook eggs – whether pasteurized or unpasteurized – and poultry products.

Cooking poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165˚F kills bacteria and viruses, including avian flu.

Reporting Cases

Report groups of sick or dead birds immediately.

For poultry, call the state Department of Agriculture and Markets at (518) 457-3502 or the USDA at (866) 536-7593 to report sick birds in your flock, an unexplained high number of deaths, or a sudden drop in egg production.

(It wouldn’t hurt to alert a local veterinarian as well.)

For wild birds, call the state Department of Environmental Conservation at (718) 482-4922 or (518) 478-2203.

You can also find a link for reporting observations on the DEC’s Animal Diseases webpage, https://dec.ny.gov/nature/wildlife-health/animal-diseases.

The CDC is closely monitoring the avian flu situation and providing updates as they become available. 

For the latest information, visit https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/index.htm. 

Proactive Measures

On Feb. 7, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that the state’s Department of Agriculture and Markets (AGM) had ordered the temporary closure of all live bird markets – places where poultry are slaughtered and sold to the public -- in New York, including those in Westchester, New York City, Nassau, and Suffolk counties.

The measure was sparked by the detection of bird flu at seven such markets in Queens, the Bronx, and Brooklyn.

The order required those markets to sell down all inventory, complete cleaning and disinfection procedures, and remain closed for five days after cleaning and disinfection.

The state also reminded agricultural operations to follow “good biosecurity measures” such as keeping poultry away from wild birds, making sure to wash boots/shoes before entering/leaving the farm, training employees on procedures and threats, limiting visitors, monitoring their livestock for signs of sickness, communicating with neighbors to make sure they’re following protocol as well, and developing pest control plans. There’s evidence that insects and rodents can spread bird flu to poultry.

“Safeguarding public health is all about being proactive,” Hochul said, promising that the state will continue to take “measured, commonsense steps” to curb the spread of bird flu.

State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald emphasized that there was no immediate threat to public health and no known cases of bird flu in humans in New York.

However, he urged anyone who has regular contact with livestock and wild birds to “safeguard their health” by wearing personal protective equipment.

Infected birds shed the virus in the saliva, nasal secretions, and feces. People and other animals can become infected by touching contaminated surfaces or objects such as cages or bedding or by breathing in dust or aerosols.

According to the CDC, examples of PPE are safety glasses/googles, masks (NIOSH-approved N95 filtering facepiece respirators or better), disposable fluid-resistant coveralls, rubber boots, and disposable gloves.

Federal data shows that more than 126,800 birds in New York state have been affected by the avian flu since 2022.

In another recent development, the USDA granted conditional approval for a new bird flu vaccine for poultry.

Developed by New Jersey-based Zoetis, said to be the world’s largest producer of medicine and vaccines for pets and livestock, it got the green light after meeting safety and efficacy standards.

Human vaccines are taking longer.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services last month awarded the pharmaceutical company Moderna $590 million to continued developing one. That’s on top of the $176 million it got last year to support the early stages of its research.

The U.S. government has licenses multiple H5N1 vaccines for humans, but they are not yet commercially available, according to media reports.

They are part of the government’s Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) of medicines to be deployed in the event of a public health emergency and would most probably go first – as did the COVID-19 vaccines – to those considered high risk.

Symptoms

According to cdc.gov, avian flu disease can present in a number of ways.

These range from no or mild symptoms to moderate and severe -- and sometimes fatal -- ones.

Mild signs and symptoms may include eye redness and irritation (conjunctivitis) -- the most predominant among U.S. cases; mild fever (a temperature of 100 F or feeling “feverish.” Fever may not always be present), cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, and fatigue.

Less common symptoms include diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.

Signs and symptoms of moderate to severe disease are high fever, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, altered consciousness, and seizures.

Treatment depends on the specific strain and severity of the infections.

Antiviral medications such as Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) can prevent the virus from spreading and reduce the severity of symptoms. They are most effective when taken within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms.

Rest, fluids, and over-the-counter pain relievers can manage symptoms and improve comfort.

In severe cases, the patient may need to be hospitalized for supportive case such as oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation, and dialysis.

Which Came First?

About a dozen years ago, the locavore movement laid the foundation for the backyard chicken trend.

The pandemic then gave it a boost, and, more recently, there’s been an uptick in such husbandry habits due, apparently, to the skyrocketing cost of eggs.

According to media reports, the price of a dozen large, Grade A store-bought eggs jumped by 65 percent in 2024. Last December, the average price was $4.95 nationwide. The USDA is predicting that prices will rise another 20 percent this year.

That’s partially attributed to the culling of millions of egg-laying hens across the country because of the bird flu outbreak, which started in 2022.

This has significantly reduced the egg supply, resulting in shortages and much higher prices. It’s impacted everything from store shelves to restaurant and bakery prices.

Most backyard flock owners cite the same reason for their hobby – fresh eggs, which they consider to be healthier and more flavorful than the store-bought variety.

(There are other benefits, including pest control and sustainability. Chickens love to chow down beetles, caterpillars, grasshoppers, and food scraps. Compared to other livestock, they require relatively little care and attention. Also, they’re fun to watch and interact with.)

However, it’s not exactly an inexpensive hobby or one for the faint-hearted.

There are also a few cons to consider, namely: start-up and maintenance costs, noise, odor, daily tasks such as cleaning coops, and the need to protect the flock from predators such as coyotes and hawks.

The eggs also might not be cheaper unless you eat a large quantity of them on a regular basis, or have neighbors willing to take them off your hands.

Local regulations and guidelines have to be followed. These vary from community to community. For instance, roosters may be forbidden and coops or enclosures required to keep chickens from wandering off.

Among the Westchester towns that currently allow folks to keep chickens in their backyards are Bedford, Lewisboro, Mount Kisco, North Salem, Pound Ridge, Somers, and Yorktown.